Revised Plan for Mallard Pointe Reflects Community Input
Press Release | August 8, 2021
BELVEDERE, Calif. (August 8, 2021) – Today, the owners of Mallard Pointe unveiled a modified proposal and new project renderings for the redevelopment of the 2.8-acre property. Led by local architects Sutton Suzuki and Francis Gough, the refined plan incorporates changes to the original proposal in response to the feedback received by the project team during the February 2, 2021 study session and more than 100 stakeholder meetings.
“Since we purchased Mallard Pointe last year, we have been engaging and collaborating with neighbors and local stakeholders to help us create a more sustainable vision for this unique property,” offered
Eric Hohmann, a long-time Belvedere resident and co-owner of Mallard Pointe 1951 LLC. “Our goal is to bring a moderate amount of new housing into Belvedere for different household types, ranging from single-family homes to duplexes and apartment flats that will be attractive to empty nesters and those who enjoy a more pedestrian-oriented lifestyle. We are encouraged by the early feedback from Belvedere residents and have worked over the past few months to integrate these suggestions into the modified plan.”
Changes to the original proposal include an 11% reduction in the overall housing units, which has been reduced from 44 to 39 units. Modifications have also been made to the site plan, including increasing the setback from Community Road. Specifically, the apartment building now provides a 10-foot landscaped setback from the property line, or about 16 feet on average from Community Road. In addition, the apartment building has been redesigned to create a “break” in the design fronting Community Road, making it similar in scale to existing Belvedere multifamily buildings. The designs for all of the Lagoon-fronting residences also have been updated with reduced glazing, increased overhangs, and further developed four-sided architecture.
To detail the revised proposal and project renderings, the project team has published a new website at www.MallardPointe2026.com for residents to review the plan, read frequently asked questions, and provide additional feedback.
Built in 1951, Mallard Pointe contains 22 single-story, on-grade homes configured in nine duplexes and one fourplex, 16 of which are situated on Belvedere Lagoon. Originally built as summer residences, the majority of these homes have had limited upgrades over the past 70 years. The units are facing obsolescence due to differential settlement, deferred maintenance, antiquated floor plans, nonconformance with current building and fire codes, and more recently, the threat of sea-level rise.
With the new proposal, the owners of Mallard Pointe are proposing to redevelop the property to create 39 new, modern sustainable residences (a net increase of 17 units) to accommodate a variety of household sizes and demographics, including four workforce housing units. The revised plan includes five Lagoon-fronting duplexes (with 2 or 3 bedrooms), six Lagoon-fronting single-family homes (with 4 bedrooms), and 23 apartments (ranging from 1 to 3 bedrooms). Three of the single-family homes are also proposed to include a one-bedroom accessory dwelling unit (ADU) located above the garages.
Hohmann added, “We have received a lot of interest from Belvedere residents who want to stay in the community and would enjoy a more walkable location, like Mallard Pointe. Currently, there are simply not enough options available for a change in lifestyle. With the proposed unit mix, we will be able to better accommodate those who want to move from their larger homes on the island as well as smaller households that just need a 1-bedroom unit. This new plan helps to address these needs by offering a greater variety of housing types and floorplans while remaining contextual with other homes on the Lagoon and apartments in Belvedere.”
The site is located in a zone designated Medium Density Residential. The General Plan allows up to 20 dwelling units an acre on developable areas, which represents a potential of 56 residences on this property that could increase to over 80 residences through the State Density Bonus Law. Alternatively, ownership proposes 39 residences, less than half of the maximum density allowed.
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About Mallard Pointe 1951 LLC
Mallard Pointe 1951 LLC is the ownership entity of Mallard Pointe and is a partnership of local families. Mallard Point 1951 LLC is led by Thompson | Dorfman Partners, LLC and partner, Eric Hohmann.
Marin County-based Thompson | Dorfman Partners, LLC (TDP) is a real estate development and investment firm whose principals have a long history in California's housing industry. Formed in 1999 by Will Thompson and Bruce Dorfman, TDP brings over 35 years of experience to Mallard Pointe. Besides founding Education Housing Partners, Inc., a nonprofit that assists school districts and public agencies to build workforce housing for their employees, the principals of TDP have also managed apartment development platforms for The Irvine Company and Trammell Crow Residential. TDP has created an award-winning portfolio of both market rate and affordable properties that have benefited their surrounding communities, responded to the objectives of ownership, and surpassed the expectations of property residents. For more information, visit: www.thompsondorfman.com.
Eric Hohmann brings more than 35 years of real estate development and management experience. He is the former President of Madison Marquette, a national real estate investment and management firm that oversaw the redevelopment of Marin County’s Town Center in Corte Madera, which replaced JCPenney with operators such as The Bay Club, Urban Outfitters, Crate & Barrel, REI and The Container Store. Hohmann also co-founded Charleston, South Carolina-based Bond Street Advisors, one of the largest owners of convenience retail centers in the Southeast United States.